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"At the age of thirty-three, Otagaki Nobu (1791-1875) renounced a world that had visited great tragedy upon her - the deaths of two husbands and three infant children - and was ordained a Buddhist nun, taking the name Rengetsu, which means "Lotus Moon." In 1832 she began to make pottery, which she inscribed with her own waka (31-syllable classic poetry) and sold to support herself. These unique combinations of hauntingly beautiful poetry, calligraphy, and pottery were as highly prized in her lifetime as they are now."--BOOK JACKET.
Up with the rooster, to bed with the sun, and if the farmers a woman, its a good bet theres always more work waiting. Holding household and family together, women farmers daily, quietly perform heroic labors just to eke a livelihood out of the land. Women have always farmed, when death or war left them to fend for themselves, but today they might choose to farm, and, in a time when farming is a shrinking occupation, their choices have expanded. Some women are only at home on the range; others, more hearth-bound, see the farm as an extension of home and family life. Some farm to feed their families; others, running huge corporate operations, farm to feed nations. These are the farmers that Women of the Harvest celebrates. In twelve illustrated profiles, the book introduces readers to women who work the land, raising livestock and crops, and, in doing so, uphold and transform a tradition as old as agriculture itself. Their stories, drawn from farms across the country, are truly in the American grain.
Long before a rocket hit the Man in the Moon in the eye in Georges Méliès’s early film Le Voyage dans la Lune, the earth’s lone satellite had entranced humans. We have worshipped it as a deity, believed it to cause madness, used it as a means of organizing time, and we now know that it manipulates the tides—our understanding of the moon continues to evolve. Following the moon from its origins to its rich cultural resonance in literature, art, religion, and politics, Moon provides a comprehensive account of the significance of our lunar companion. Edgar Williams explores the interdependence of the Earth and the moon, not only the possibility that life on Earth would not be viable without the moon, but also the way it has embedded itself in culture. In addition to delving into roles the moon has played in literature from science fiction and comics to poetry, he examines how Elizabeth I was worshipped as the moon goddess Diana, the moon’s place in folklore and astrology, and humanity’s long-standing dream of inhabiting its surface. Filled with entertaining anecdotes, this book is the kind of succinct, witty, and informative look at everything lunar that only comes around once in a blue moon.
First published in 2007. An encyclopaedic account of traditional Chinese festivals, customs and beliefs, lavishly illustrated with line drawings and paintings, this remarkable work by an Englishman who spent twenty years in China from the Imperial aftermath through the establishment of Communism, gives fascinating insights into a complex culture poised between past and present. Burckhardt's beautifully written and detailed work includes the rites practiced by the Manchu royal court and the rituals permitted under the Communist and Nationalist regimes, the festivals of working people and villagers as well as the ceremonies of the mandarins of Peking and Hong Kong, in all seasons of the year. He was especially close to the renowned Boat People of the former colony, and gives a unique account of life abroad the harbour junks and their sea-borne celebrations. Among the subjects dealt with are Chinese cuisine, the meaning of presents, secret societies, the Chinese calendar, cats (the Chinese prefer cats with yellow eyes), Chinese dress, jade carving, feng shui, etiquette, the hundreds of gods of house and wayside, temples and their guardians, and all the great festivals - those of the Moon, the Dragon Boats, the Hungry Ghosts, the Magnolia, the New Year and many more. Chinese creeds and customs were Burkhardt's passion, and no better account of them will ever be written.
A detailed, beautifully illustrated presentation of the construction and symbolism of the famed Kalachakra mandala, the crown jewel of the Indo-Tibetan tantric traditions. This volume contains an extensive analysis of the construction and symbolism of the mandala of the Kalachakra tantric system, the most intricate and explicit of the Indian Buddhist unexcelled yoga tantras, the most advanced teachings within the Indo-Tibetan tradition. Indo-Tibetan tantric traditions, particularly the unexcelled category, depend on imagery and visualization for the processes of purifying cyclic existence, and Kalachakra is the most detailed. The late scholar-practitioner Edward Henning, one of the earliest Western specialists on this material, offers this labor of love as a testament to the genius of the Tibetan tradition in preserving and transmitting these teachings over a thousand years. Well known internationally now due to the Dalai Lama’s many public initiations, the Kalachakra mandala serves as a primary focal point for meditators both new and seasoned. Henning draws primarily from the Jonang tradition of Kalachakra practice, particularly the modern master Banda Gelek, to elucidate and clarify inconsistencies across traditions and literature, including the authoritative Indian commentary Stainless Light (Vimalaprabha), regarding the construction and visualization of the three-tiered mandala with its hundreds of deities. In addition to providing detailed information on the images to be visualized, Henning provides in the final chapter a clear and extensive explanation of the symbolism of the habitat and inhabitants that are to be animated during the meditation session. An excellent companion to the translations of the Kalachakra Tantra and Stainless Light chapters co-published by the American Institute of Buddhist Studies and Wisdom Publications, this beautifully illustrated volume is a must-have for scholars and practitioners alike.
We have become fixated on ascent in our lives: achieving more, being quicker, and rising up. But what if we are missing the richest life lessons by repressing the difficulties we experience? Both ascent and descent are vital in life. Yet, whilst we are educated on how best to ascend, it is rare we are supported as we descend. Instead, we are encouraged to hide those times from ourselves and others. Richard's descent was epic. From playing lead roles on West-End stages to receiving a diagnosis of three months to live with a rare cancer. In this heartfelt and moving story, Richard offers a glimpse into his year of monumental descent. He invites us to accompany him as he navigates loss, grief, and heartache in a tale of the beauty and the ugliness of the human condition. How, when illness struck, unexpected love and compassion became the secret healer. Something Richard was determined to share by setting up a charity for others with blood cancer. As a Kite Falls offers food for thought and medicine for the soul. Richard's humility, humour, and grace shine through on every page. He uses the flow of the seasons and the deceptively simple art of haiku to bring us closer to the importance of space and pause in our lives. Richard's training in psychotherapy adds a deeper layer of understanding of what it means to be human, while acknowledging that none of us can truly make sense of the load others carry. In a world drowning in noise, As a Kite Falls gifts us a place of quietening down to listen to our own whispers.
Chanting exists in many religious and spiritual traditions. The practice of chant focuses the mind and body with simple physics of sound, while the choice of chant can reflect a specific need, or honor a tradition. Gods, Goddesses, and Saints is a user-friendly, in-depth guide to a solitary practice of chant and meditation, providing chants from many faiths, from pagan deities to saints from many religions. Beautifully organized in many different ways, this book encourages you to explore the resonance of important figures and their associations and meanings across many traditions. You will also find blank forms to help you create your own chants and meditations. Gods, Goddesses, and Saints provides a fresh view of spiritual practice and new ideas for the future of faith.
Chinese Civilization sets the standard for supplementary texts in Chinese history courses. With newly expanded material, personal documents, social records, laws, and documents that historians mistakenly ignore, the sixth edition is even more useful than its classic predecessor. A complete and thorough introduction to Chinese history and culture.
In Heart Jewel Geshe Kelsang presents two essential practices of Kadampa Buddhism, the popular Mahayana Buddhist tradition that derives from the renowned Tibetan teacher Je Tsongkhapa. The first practice is relying upon a spiritual guide, which lays the foundation for gaining all the blessings and realizations of the paths to liberation and enlightenment. The second practice is relying upon and enlightened Dharma Protector, whereby we can swiftly overcome all obstacles to our spiritual practice and create favourable conditions for developing and increasing pure dharma realizations. An invaluable introduction to the profound and dynamic tradition of Kadampa buddhism. In Heart Jewel Geshe Kelsang presents two essential practices of Kadampa Buddhism, the popular Mahayana Buddhist tradition that derives from the renowned Tibetan teacher Je Tsongkhapa. The first practice is relying upon a spiritual guide, which lays the foundation for gaining all the blessings and realizations of the paths to liberation and enlightenment. The second practice is relying upon and enlightened Dharma Protector, whereby we can swiftly overcome all obstacles to our spiritual practice and create favourable conditions for developing and increasing pure dharma realizations. An invaluable introduction to the profound and dynamic tradition of Kadampa buddhism.
Inspired by the knowledge revealed in the books written by Yoga-Gurus of Yogada Satsanga Society of India, he has searched and found out correlations among the ancient-scriptures, yoga-texts, and modern-sciences developed since 1700 A.D after the inventions of microscope and telescope. He explains how the cause behind all the causes happens to be the Creator of Universe, within and without. His synthesis provides root-level-remedies for the present-day problems such as population explosion, depletion of non-renewable resources, extinction of species due to pollutions of all sorts, health problems due to anxieties and un-natural living styles, clashing of religious beliefs causing violent incidents, etc. The author has laid a bridge of understanding between the ever- diverging modern sciences, and converging ancient scriptures. · Modern sciences offer ‘clues’ to know the hidden-meanings of symbolic and encrypted words in Vedas, Bible, etc. · Scientific explanations for a few key-verses in RIK Veda. · Correlations among physics, meta-physics, and physiology. · Strategies behind the creation of solar system, at the third stage. · Electrons play tremendous roles in the body and matter. · Justification, by three-bodies-theory, of diversity in species. · How man is the image of God, but with very limited powers. · A Scientist can create a new thing using other materials. · A Successful Yogi can dissolve his own body and re-appear. · How past-life memories and habits also influence rebirths. · Journeys of the soul across happier worlds before liberation. · Creative powers of the alphabet of Sanskrit, the Divine Language. · Reconciliation of religious beliefs is sure to fetch peace.